title: Blood total mercury concentrations in the Canadian population: Canadian Health Measures Survey cycle 1, 2007-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We present total mercury (THg) in blood of Canadians 6-79 years of age from the first to-date nationally-representative survey, the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). This analysis is particularly relevant in the context of recent changes to Health Canada's blood Hg guidance values.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from cycle 1 (2007-2009) of the CHMS, in particular focussing on 5,319 respondents aged 6-79 years for whom blood THg data were available. We calculated descriptive statistics of blood Hg levels and analyzed the associations between blood THg levels and relevant variables. We also compared blood THg levels to existing Health Canada blood Hg guidance values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The geometric mean blood THg level of the Canadian population was 0.69 µg/L (95% CI 0.56-0.86 µg/L). The majority (97.8%) of Canadian women aged 16-49 years, including pregnant women, had blood Hg values below the provisional HC blood guidance value of 8 µg/L. Mean blood THg levels were significantly higher in the "other or mixed" (1.14 µg/L, p=0.0003) and Asian (1.41 µg/L, p=0.0476) groups compared to those who self-identified as solely Caucasian (0.62 µg/L). There was however no significant difference between participants self-identified as Aboriginal Canadians versus Caucasians (0.56 µg/L vs 0.62 µg/L, p=0.2902).Fish and shellfish consumption significantly influenced blood Hg levels, as did alcohol consumption and the presence of dental amalgams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper presents the first description of blood THg levels in the general Canadian population. These findings will serve as a national baseline for monitoring future changes should they arise.
authors.affiliation: Chemicals Surveillance Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada. ellen.lye@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lye
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Probert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury
keywords: Canada; Canadian Health Measures Survey; Mercury; biomonitoring; blood; methylmercury